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A new book entited Commercial Practice in Bunkering is being released this week by Nigel Draffin of LQM Petroleum Services. It is Draffin’s fourth title on bunker fuels, following An Introduction to Bunkering (2008), An Introduction to Fuel Analysis (2009) and An Introduction to Bunker Operations (2010).

The book is a guidance on the process and methods of buying and selling bunker fuels. It assumes a little knowledge of ships, commerce and marine fuel and is intended as a ready reference for those who need to understand how the commercial side of the business really works.

Any commercial deal between a seller and buyer can be frustrated at any stage of the process, and bunkering can be particularly prone to contractual problems. In Commercial Practice in Bunkering, Nigel Draffin guides the reader around the pitfalls, using simple and sometimes entertaining language to explain often complicated issues.

The book examines every aspect of the commercial deal, from the buyer’s enquiry to the supplier’s offer, terms and conditions, the contract and each party’s obligations.

It takes the reader through the enquiry, (offers, costs, payment terms, negotiations), pre- and post-fixing, ownership profiles and responsibilities, sellers’ terms and conditions, finance (credit, insurance, hedging, prices). It also covers defaults and claims and debunkering.

The book also dissects the latest edition of bunker quality standard ISO 82127:2010 and draws comparisons with its predecessor, ISO 8217:2005.

Commercial Practice in Bunkering includes clauses drawn from real contracts and practical advice on how to navigate around them. There is also a chapter on the costs – and potential financial penalties – of increasingly stringent international environmental regulations.

The publication also includes a vast amount of informed detail on some of those areas of bunkering that are often ignored, sometimes to great cost and inconvenience. Draffin has also included an extensive glossary, comprehensive indices and appendices, as well as a 'where to go for help' section.

Draffin has been involved in shipping for over 45 years and with the commercial bunker market for over 25 years. He is a founder member of the International Bunker Industry Association (IBIA) and has served several times on its council of management and executive board. In April 2011 he became Vice Chairman of IBIA.

Draffin is co-ordinator of IBIA’s Education Working Group and author of IBIA’s Basic Bunkering Course. He is a member of the Institute of Marine Engineering Science and Technology and Past Master of the Worshipful Company of Fuellers. He is also Senior Broker and Technical Director of US-based bunker broker LQM Petroleum Services.